Author: Logan Roberts
Disclaimer: The characters of Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, Roy
Harper, Bruce Wayne, The Joker, and Harley Quinn belong to DC.
Rating: PG-13
Story Synopsis: I understand that there are currently two schools of thought
regarding what the Joker did after he shot Barbara. In this story it is
assumed that in addition to the pictures she was raped. This is about what
happens after Dick learns the whole truth
Feedback: This is my first Fic so be gentle. Public feedback is welcome.
Please send critical feedback to my e-mail.
Thanks: To Charlene for letting me bounce some ideas off of her and editing and
keeping me correct with all facts.
Truth & Lies: Part 1
Roy woke up with a start. He sat up and his head spun. "Way too much
to drink last night," he said aloud. He looked over at the chair in his room
and jumped again. There sat Dick, he was in his costume without his mask. Roy
thought it looked like he had been crying.
"What time is it?" Roy slurred.
"Eight, in the morning."
"Oh man," Roy said as he pulled himself out of bed and stumbled over to
where Dick sat and took the other chair in the room. "What's up?"
"I can't believe it. I cant believe those so close to me kept this
from me," Dick said as he dropped his head into his hands.
"What, what happened?"
"It is all so confusing. Maybe I should start from the beginning."
"Bruce was out of town for the week on business in Metropolis. Since
it was exam week for Tim I was asked to come to Gotham and give Cassandra a
hand. I didn't mind. Bludhaven had been unusually quiet and I was up for some
vacation. I pulled up to the manor around 5:30 on Monday night. Alfred
greeted me at the door with his usual welcoming expression. He told me dinner
would be served in ten minutes, I wasn't hungry but I knew it would be no use
to argue. I went straight to my room and dropped off my bags. For some reason
I had brought my police equipment bag, I guess it was becoming habit. When I
made it to the dining room I was surprised to find Barbara and Cassandra
waiting for me. It had been too long since I had seen her face to face. We
spoke every day dealing with business but I still missed her. She was so
beautiful. I almost sprinted over to her and wrapped my arms around her. She
was wearing a perfume that was driving me wild.
Throughout dinner we caught up with each other, telling tales of life,
not adventure. Cassandra still amazes me. Ever since I first met her during
No Man's Land, knowing she had come from such a hard life and yet she still had
so much innocence. It was almost like we lived normal lives. But I knew it
wouldn't last forever. Alfred took Barbara home around ten and Cassandra went
into the cave to prep for the night. Bruce had left me with an errand list,
rumors of what was going on throughout Gotham.
We took the bikes and split up. It was so good to be back in Gotham.
Bludhaven might be my city but Gotham is home. The old patrol routes came back
just like riding a bicycle. Around one I got the call from Oracle, the Joker
had escaped. I got to Arkham as quickly as I could but he was long gone. I
did two more rounds and called it a night knowing that he wasn't going to poke
his head out anytime soon. Not till his twisted mind formed what he considered
a plan.
When I got back to the cave I still wasn't tired. I changed into my
workout shorts and began. I decided to skip stretching since I was already
pretty loose I started with some aikido routines and then moved to the
gymnastic equipment. It was nice to have access to this, no gym in Bludhaven
had all of the equipment I was used to. An hour later I was sweaty and bored.
I took a quick shower and sat down at the computer.
I started pulling up everything I could on the Joker. I knew this file
by heart but I knew it wouldn't hurt to scan it again, or would it. I couldn't
help it, I ended up at the file concerning Barbara. Had it been so long ago.
What he had taken from her was immeasurable. I almost missed it, a file that I
had never seen. There was nothing special about it, the name was just a series
of numbers but it had been created the night the Joker was arrested after her
shooting. I clicked on it. It was secured, and not even my password would
open it.
Ok, my curiosity was piqued. Tim and Barbara had been showing me some
hacking techniques, so I decided to see how well I had learned them. It was
tough, tighter than any other file I have seen Bruce keep. Normally I wouldn't
try to pry into his files but I had a really bad feeling about this one.
Thirty minutes later I had it, by a stroke of luck it opened. It was a
collection of pictures.
I cant describe the horror and anger that welled up in me. Before me I
saw the love of my life, frame by frame, shot and in pain, being stripped and
raped by the Joker. I cried. I don't know for how long. But when I pulled
myself together, I knew what had to be done.